Hatiora cactus comes from Brazil. In tropical forests, it grows to several meters, at home - no more than 50 cm, being an important element of decor. There are 2 subspecies of these succulents, each of which has its own characteristics.
The main types of hautors
Among flower growers, the hathior is saliferous and salicorniform.
Hatiora saltwater
Hatiora indoor flower is distinguished by an unusual structure of stems and beautiful plentiful flowering. Hatiora solyanka-like fits perfectly into the interior of any room. Stems have a large number of segments of small (no more than 3 mm in diameter) size.
Hatiora Cactus
They are thin and gradually fall under their weight, form a bush. Flowers of orange, yellow hues are located on the tip of the shoots. In place of flowers, small berries soon form.
Hachior salicorniform
This flower of the Hathior is otherwise called the "dancing bone cactus." The dark green segments of the plant look like a small mace or bottle. They are no longer than 2 cm long. The central shoot of the plant becomes hard over time.
The flowers of this hator “dancing bones" are orange, yellow, reminiscent of bells. They can reach 7 cm in diameter.
Hatior Care
Cactus soil: basic soil requirements and options at homeImportant! This cactus does not like direct sunlight to fall on it, but also does not tolerate shading. Optimal for him would be direct sunlight on the west or east window. In summer, the plant can be placed in the open air, but be sure to obscure it.
If at home there is a flower of a hator, care at home will not be difficult. The plant is not picky, but in order for it to delight the eyes with its lush flowering, lighting and a short period of rest in winter are certainly necessary. If the flowers fade, then they need to be pinched so that energy is not wasted on the formation of seeds. Cactus can be pruned to have a beautiful shape.
Humidity and temperature
If you have a hatorio home care should be attentive. Owners of hatiora need to monitor the temperature regime. Cactus does not tolerate sudden temperature fluctuations. During each season, you need to keep a different temperature. In summer it is from 22 to 27 degrees, in winter - from 7 to 12. If the hator's cactus is warm in the winter, it will not rest and will not bloom in the next season.
Hatiora soil
Hatiora stick is demanding for high humidity. In a hot period, the plant needs to be constantly moistened. If the room has dry air, this is not fatal for the plant, but because of it it will grow worse. In winter, spraying can be omitted.
Soil and fertilizing
For this plant with a poorly developed root system, small pots should be selected. It is necessary that they have a small layer of drainage from pebbles or expanded clay.
The soil mixture must be enriched with organic substances. If the soil is poor in organic matter, then the plant will be weak. An indispensable condition for the development of the plant is excellent soil permeability. The optimal mixture is: turf, leafy earth, sand, humus. The soil reaction should be slightly acidic. On slightly alkaline soils, the cactus grows weakly.
Good watering ensures excellent plant condition
It is necessary to feed the plant, based on the development phase. So, if the plant does not bloom, then you need to fertilize it once every 2 weeks, introducing nitrogen fertilizers. When the hatiora blooms, potassium mixtures are introduced into the soil. In winter, when the plant "sleeps", it is best to completely refuse feeding.
Watering
Hatiora requires careful and careful watering. The soil should be moistened, and should be watered with warm boiled or settled water. During the period of active vegetation, plants need to be watered regularly, loosening watering in autumn and winter. You can not water the plant with cold water from the tap - this leads to rotting of the root system.
Important! If you go too far with watering, then the roots of the cactus will begin to rot. The soil must be moist, in no case unlike gruel.
When to transplant a plant
To do this, you need to choose a time when all the flowers are completely bloomed. In the process of transplanting, the roots are carefully cleaned of the remnants of the former earth. Young plants should be replanted annually, choosing pots for this more freely.
When the hatch of succulent reaches 3 years, the frequency of transplants decreases: 1 time for 3 years. Larger plants need to be replanted even less frequently.
Cactus breeding options
Indoor lovers need to know how the hator grows. Hatoria can be propagated by seed and vegetatively. Buying seeds is best in spring. Sow them as soon as possible so that they do not lose germination. Seeds are placed in small bowls filled with a mixture of sand and peat. They are covered with earth, covered with a film.
This greenhouse should be kept at room temperature. After 2 weeks - a month, the first shoots appear. Seedlings are placed on the windowsill, holding shelter for another 3 weeks. Then the seedlings are dived and placed in small pots.
Cuttings
Cactus can be propagated in this way in spring or summer. The only requirement is that the plant must remain in the phase of active vegetation. First, the topmost shoot is separated with several lobes.
Attention! This escape must be broken off, separated, and not cut off.
The separated cuttings should be dried for some time in the fresh air and then rooted in a mixture of peat and sand. It must be kept in a warm place where direct sunlight does not fall. Sometimes shoots fall from the mother plant, and they root themselves.
Some gardeners cut the stalk and carbonize it with charcoal. In this case, rooting occurs the same way. When new small sheets appear, the small hator can be transplanted to a new place.
Hathior cuttings
The cactus is grafted onto a prickly peresk. It is necessary to vaccinate in the summer months. The grafted place is fixed with a patch. It is removed only after the scion begins to grow.
Bloom hatiora
Typically, a cactus blooms in winter, after a period of hibernation. In autumn, when plant growth slows down, a bud is formed from which a flower grows.
During the preparation for flowering, the plant is kept in a cool place. Humidify it is not necessary. Having returned the cactus to normal warm conditions, they resume watering. This contributes to the appearance of small buds. The duration of the resting period is small - about a month. The abundance of its flowering depends on the conditions in which the plant is contained.
Reasons why it does not bloom
The main reasons why the hator is not in bloom are:
- Low humidity in the room.
- In winter, the plant is placed in a too cold place, and flower buds do not form.
- The owner of the plant does not feed him enough.
- The cactus is located on the northern windows, where there is not enough sunlight.
Cactus bloom
Hatio Care Mistakes
Typical mistakes when caring for this beautiful plant:
- insufficient watering;
- too low a temperature during active growth or dormancy;
- reduced air humidity at elevated temperature;
- lack of top dressing;
- hydration during rest;
- wrong pot selection (too high);
- clay soil use;
- lack of a drainage layer in soil mix.
If the plant is improperly looked after, fungal diseases may appear. In this case, gray or brown spots with a characteristic rotten odor appear on the plant. They need to be removed and treated with a fungicide solution.
In summer, the plant can be damaged by a spider mite, a mealybug, a scab. Cactus should be sprayed in the shower, treated with laundry soap dissolved in water. If this treatment is ineffective, insecticides are used.
The flower of a home hator is a beautiful cactus that does not require professional care. Unlike other succulents, it needs a lot of moisture for normal development. Compliance with the recommendations for care contributes to abundant and long flowering.
